BREAKING A RUNAWAY HORSE 101 



understand the word " whoa." I then drive him in long 

 reins without the bit, and give the same command. I 

 always lay him on the ground before driving in long 

 reins. Then I harness him up and, using my master rein, 

 drive him in a field first, without a bit in his mouth, 

 the reins being buckled on the sides of the bridle. Then, 

 to begin with, I let him walk. He cannot "take the 

 bit in his mouth/ 1 or " grasp the bit, 1 ' because there is 

 no bit there. It is not the mouth we have to master, 

 but the horse's brain. He cannot reason, as some 

 people imagine, so I reason for him. His brain controls 

 his muscles, and his legs are the little gifts of Nature 

 with which he runs. Therefore I control his legs while 

 driving around the field. If he does not stop at once 

 when I say " Whoa ! " I just gently pull my master 

 rein, and he is brought to his knees (of course, knee-caps 

 are used). I give the command " Whoa ! " several 

 times and then allow him to rise and to continue his 

 little trot around the circle. He soon learns the meaning 

 of the command without the use of a brutal jaw-breaking 

 bit, which tears the cheeks, cuts the tongue, injures the 

 jaw and eventually numbs the mouth, so that when 

 the flesh becomes non-sensitive the horse can bolt quite 

 easily, because after this brutal and ignorant treatment 

 the tissues of the skin become so tough and callous 



